And he went out from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And when the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed, saying, “Where did this man get these things? And what is this wisdom that has been granted to this man, and the miracles such as these performed through his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they were offended by him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own household.” And he was not able to do any miracle in that place except to lay his hands on a few sick peopleand heal them. And he was astonished because of their unbelief. And he was going around among the villages teaching.

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"astonished because of their unbelief"

The Power of Unbelief

-Eve didn't believe God's word and all mankind suffered

-All the earth was destroyed except Noah because the people didn't believe

-Israels unbelief

Hebrews 3:19 LEB

And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

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Matthew 23:37–39 LEB

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her young together under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house has been left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will never see me from now on until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

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-Jesus' hometown, Family

Isaiah 53:3 LEB

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering, and acquainted with sickness, and like one from whom others hide their faces, he was despised, and we did not hold him in high regard.

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Jesus was "astonished because of their unbelief"

Twice Jesus uses this word "Thaumazō" but for opposite meanings. Here but it has a negative context and in Luke in the positive "Enthoumasen" sounds a lot like our word enthusiasm.

-Centurion

Luke 7:1–10 LEB

After he had finished all his statements in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. Now a certain centurion’s slave, who was esteemed by him, was sick and was about to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, asking him that he would come and cure his slave. And when they came to Jesus, they began imploring him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy that you grant this for him, because he loves our nation and he himself built the synagogue for us.” So Jesus went with them. Now by this time he was not far away from the house, and the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. For this reason neither did I consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my slave must be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another one, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” And when Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning around to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!” And when they returned to the house, those who had been sent found the slave healthy.

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Contrast the 2 accounts.

-Jesus' reputation preceded him.

-Jesus had not spoken a word to the Centurion while he taught in the synagogue in Nazareth.

-Believed with seeing the miracles while some in that town were eye witnesses and yet did not believe

-He was not worthy to come under his roof while the Jews insulted him and his family.

This was not the first time they rejected him.

Luke 4:16–22 LEB

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and according to his custom he entered into the synagogue on the day of the Sabbath and stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll he found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because of which he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send out in freedom those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were looking intently at him. And he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And they were all speaking well of him, and were astonished at the gracious words that were coming out of his mouth. And they were saying, “Is this man not the son of Joseph?”

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Here Jesus reads from Is 53 and talks about their unbelief. Which in turn prompts them to try and throw him of the local cliff. This time they just insult him. John 8:41 "We were not born from sexual immorality!"

"Son of Mary", "the carpenter" (commoner just like them)

Jesus was only able to lay his hands a few people.

He was astonished because of their unbelief. Jesus was not able to be effective in His own household. I want to take a minute here and speak to us all who have family members that do not believe. Jesus could not get through to his own family. Later on we find out that his brothers did believe but isn't that the case so often with family. Dave Ramsey often talks to people who's family reject the crazy idea of becoming debt free and he tells those people that you just have to love them and then someday when that family member is in a crisis that's the opportunity to help them. It's the same with the gospel message you need to tell people how it is but you can't make them believe. You can really only just love on them and be there with wisdom and words of truth when the time is right.

Culture of Unbelief

-What happens when a culture largely personalizes God to the extent that He becomes irrelevant?

-What happens when a culture believes they answer to no one?

-As our culture lacks belief the very foundation of that culture crumbles and there starts to be discussion and confusion about things like marriage and gender.

Unbelief's impact on the Church

-Don't believe

-Dislike Organized religion

-Religiously unsure/undecided

-inactive believer

Unbelief impact the family

Are we a living testimony to our children?

Do we believe or do we keep Jesus in our nightstand or a box for when we really need Him?

Where do we turn for answers to life questions first?

Is prayer a first response or a last resort?

What effect can a lack of family worship and discipleship have on the beliefs of our children?

If we as parents are not intentional about discipling our children then we miss out on the blessings God has for us when we believe and follow His instruction. Deut. 6

What was the impact of unbelief in Capernaum?

Matthew 11:20–24 LEB

Then he began to reproach the towns in which the majority of his miracles had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and for Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. Nevertheless I tell you that it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”

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What is the impact on anyone who does not believe?

John 3:35–36 LEB

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life—but the wrath of God remains on him.